Tewksbury Library seeks gifts to fill tree

TEWKSBURY -- The Tewksbury Public Library is calling on all residents to consider donating to its annual Giving Tree project for Tewksbury Hospital patients.

Each year, the library takes gift requests from 100 residents at the state-run mental-health institution, which is adjacent to the library. Library patrons are encouraged to take a paper ornament off a Christmas tree in the library and bring it to the circulation desk. A library employee will help donors select a gift and write a number on the ornament.

"It usually happens very quickly ... and this year, the gifts are due Saturday, the 12th," Library Director Diane Giarrusso said.

Giarrusso estimates that about 40 percent of the tags were still waiting

to be picked last week, and asked that anyone interested in participating stop by the library as soon as possible.

Once a gift is purchased, the library asks that it be dropped off under the tree, wrapped, with the paper ornament attached.

"We are talking about everything from a watch to a purple baseball cap to perfume to a sweatshirt, a new pair of pajamas," Giarrusso said of the gift requests. "They're very humble, small kinds of gifts."

Giarrusso said there are some longtime residents of Tewksbury Hospital who do not have regular visitors, or whose friends or family may not have the means to bring them gifts for Christmas.

Advertisement

As time runs out on this year's project, the library is using its Facebook and Twitter accounts to get the word out as much as possible, so all the gift requests can be met.

"We have such good luck with social (media) when we ask people for things that we need and for help," she said. "Our patrons and people who follow us on social media are very generous. ... It's a really wonderful thing that we like to do."

All gifts for the Tewksbury Hospital Giving Tree must be dropped off by Saturday at the Tewksbury Public Library, 300 Chandler St. For more information, contact Giarrusso at 978-640-4490.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.